Mixed response from Kerela over negative voting verdict

It was a mixed response from Kerela Friday to the apex court's verdict on voter's right to negative voting.

CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters that these things should be discussed in parliament and it was unfortunate that the apex court decided this.

"Electoral reforms and issues of tackling money and muscle power in politics are all issues that parliament should decide," said Karat.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court said that for a vibrant democracy the voter has the right to negative voting by rejecting all the candidates in fray by exercising the option of None of the Above (NOTA) in EVMs and ballot papers.

State Congress president Ramesh Chennithala said this was something new that has now come up.

"Our party will have a discussion on this and then we will come out with our opinion," said Chennithala to reporters.

But Chief Minister Oommen Chandy when asked for a comment shot back to the media that it was sad that the media was not interested to know or ask what affects the common man, and walked away.

But veteran State Finance Minister K.M. Mani who heads the Kerala Congress (Mani) said that he finds nothing wrong in the judgment.